Three-day and ten-day chemotherapy for urinary tract infections in general practice.

Abstract

The length of a course of antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection varies with the habits of the prescriber. Many patients do not complete a course of treatment once their symptoms have subsided. In uncomplicated urinary tract infection among women seen in general practice a three-day course of amoxycillin was as effective as a 10-day course of the same drug in the same dose. Relief of symptoms was equal in both groups and bacteriuria was eliminated equally successfully in both regimens. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of side effects from the drugs. The financial saving which could accrue from adopting this therapeutic regimen would be significant.

Managing urinary tract infection in women

“…A 3-day course of an oral antibiotic will usually suffice for treating uncomplicated cystitis and appears as effective as 5-day or 7-day regimens 16 , 17. However, 3-day courses are not recommended in the product licences of many antibiotics.…”

Microbiological Aspects of Chemotherapy of Lower Urinary Tract Infections

“…As far as amoxicillin is concerned, a 3-day treatment is as effective as a 10-day treatment [Charlton et al, 1976]. …”

Treatment duration for urinary tract infections in adults

“…A 3-day treatment course for women with acute bacterial cystitis was introduced into clinical practice 10 years ago to reduce costs and come to grips with the reality that patients often discontinued medication prematurely when therapy rapidly dissipated their disabling symptoms (10). Two observations provided the scientific foundation for considering this abbreviated treatment course.…”

“…Some studies enrolled patients with bacteria resistant to the prescribed drug treatment (27). Some studies failed to randomly allocate patients to the treatment programs being compared (10). Most studies did not ascertain in a blinded manner the incidence of adverse drug reactions.…”